The Blood Witch

6: Allies

~ Rhaenys Vissera, blood witch ~

I wake and find myself in a new and foreign place. A dark tunnel within some kind of cave system. I sit up, wincing as my head bumps the wall of the cell I am in. A wry chuckle sounds from the gloom beyond my cell.

"This place is the Darkscape, girl," he says. "We will likely die soon, but ... the name's Haakon Sterling, I am a warlock. You?"

"Rhaenys Vissera, witch," I say, leaving out the blood part.

But the next thing Haakon says stuns me. "Ah, the fabled blood witch those stupid gods keep talking so much about. Nice to finally put a face to that name."

Haakon crawls into my line of sight, still in his cell, but just across the way from me. He has a long brown beard with equally long hair. Hazel eyes that glimmer a faint glow. Tan skin that isn't scarred, but almost looks like it is. He studies me closely, those burning hazel eyes reminding me of dark embers of a dying flame.

He sees my pale, scarred skin. My long, auburn hair and red eyes. He sighs, whatever he sees in my red eyes seems to be something he approves of. 

"Well, Rhaenys, I have a plan for how to get out of these cages," he says. "They have yet to place those Gorgian shackles on us that will silence our powers. But don't worry, they won't. So, go to the back of the cell, and cover your eyes when I say to."

I nod. "You sure this is safe?"

Haakon scoffs. "Probably not, Rhaen."

"Rhaen?"

He chuckles. "Yeah. As much as I like saying rainy-ess, or whatever, I think saying Rhaen will be easier."

I smile. "Alright, but can I call you Haaky?"

"Hmm! Most certainly not!"

That earns a laugh from us both.

Then, Haakon gestures for me to crawl back in my cell. I do, pressing myself against the cold wall. He nods, and I close my eyes and cover my face. Even so, the blast of orange light that he emits then is so bright that I see it. There is a hissing sound, and then, he laughs.

"I've done it!" Haakon cackles.  "Oh, Rhaen. You can open your eyes. It is safe now."

I do, and see Haakon right in front of me, grinning like a fool. "Thank you." He nods and helps me climb out of this cell, and once we are both out of it,  we stand up. I dust myself off, and Haakon does, too.

"Well, now, Rhaen. Follow your powers, where are our next batch of allies?"

I close my eyes, reaching out with my blood magick. I float down several narrow tunnels before finally, I find two beings trapped in cells, both whose powers are dampened by the shackles Haakon had mentioned.

I open my eyes and turn back to him, a smile on my face. "Follow me."